Abstract
This presentation explores how music has been used to challenge oppression, promote social justice, empower communities, and inspire collective action. It examines the intersection of music, identity, and power, focusing on how genres such as hip-hop, rap, reggaeton, folk, and those rooted in the African diaspora serve as tools for survival and resistance against systemic oppression. Rooted in urban spaces often marked by inequality, displacement, and state violence, these musical forms create platforms for storytelling, community-building, resistance, and collective healing. Through an analysis of lyrical content, performance practices, and the socio-political contexts of these genres, this study demonstrates how they challenge dominant narratives, reclaim cultural agency, and foster solidarity. Drawing on examples from the Bronx to Oaxaca (as seen in the De la Calle docuseries) and insights from my Freshman seminar, this presentation situates music within a global history of human resilience. It argues that music serves as both a mirror of social realities and a catalyst for imagining more equitable futures. This work looks to contribute to ongoing discussions about the transformative potential of music in resisting injustice, fostering healing, and sustaining hope, both individually and collectively.
Presenters
Iris HauserLecturer, Spanish and Portuguese, Princeton University, New Jersey, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Cultural Studies, Music, Resistance, Resilience, Social Justice, Empowerment, Cultural Expressions
